tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post6064807314599545430..comments2023-10-24T11:03:41.388-05:00Comments on ladypoverty: Honoring veteransJ.R. Boydhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09076895859826581960noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-9361913805843360112010-11-12T17:03:52.364-05:002010-11-12T17:03:52.364-05:00what the Tee Vee taught:
I hope you're cool w...what the Tee Vee taught:<br /><br />I hope you're cool with that! <br /><br /><br />sglover:<br /><br />Thanks -- it's good hearing from you, too!<br /><br />The problem with drafts in class societies, of course, is their class character. I would support a draft which draws equitably from all members of the community -- i.e. advocate for it as a corollary to class struggle. <br /><br />If a community believes strongly enough in the need for a military function, they should take equal part in negotiating its administration like anything else.<br /><br /><br />Jim H.:<br /><br />Yes! Thanks for the elaboration and clarification. Your emphasis is well-taken.JRBhttp://ladypoverty.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-47772154684076794552010-11-12T14:26:27.998-05:002010-11-12T14:26:27.998-05:00Another way of looking at the problem is that the ...Another way of looking at the problem is that the military is often seen as the extension of our high school football team (or name your sport). We, the fans, are supposed to cheer them on b/c they represent "our side".<br /><br />This conditions us early on to the presumption upon which you base your post.<br /><br />What happens when, as under GWB, we begin privatizing the military function? There is no longer the same let's call it 'moral' compunction for us to support them. Unless, that is, we've become a totally militarized society, and our economy is based and ultimately dependent on the military function for its growth. Which, again, we have been in danger of becoming over the last few year.<br /><br />Extricating our economy from its military dependency is an enormous and lengthy task—Herculean, if you will. It involves a moving away from imperial aim—again, not a given.<br /><br />That being said, it's hard to brand individual soldiers, many if not most of whom have little more than a HS education and who believe they're just "going out for the team", with complicity in the larger function.<br /><br />Those who, as you suggest, manage to achieve some consciousness of the overall role of the military in our society and try to address its anti-democratic tendencies are, indeed, to be supported.<br /><br />I cannot condemn those who don't achieve enlightenment, though. The obstacles are simply too great.<br /><br />Best,<br />Jim H.Jim H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02088100982761595050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-58038689797732663802010-11-11T19:25:50.345-05:002010-11-11T19:25:50.345-05:00Oh, I've never had enough superlatives to desc...Oh, I've never had enough superlatives to describe this site. I'm very very grateful, JRB.<br /><br />I know you don't go in for tidy, bullet-pointed reform lists, but I'm curious what you think about conscription, or perhaps some kind of national militia system. Of course, there's an element of coercion that you might disagree with. But I'm pretty sure that moral disgraces like our Iraq adventure would never have happened if we had a draft. Also, widespread exposure to the military as it actually is might go a long way towards deflating the "warrior" mystique that infects so many History Channel Caesars.<br />-- sgloverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5461044.post-41053862293802659302010-11-11T17:52:51.286-05:002010-11-11T17:52:51.286-05:00I find myself — quite frequently — repeating the t...I find myself — quite frequently — repeating the thoughts I read here.what the Tee Vee taughthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18288852666676682547noreply@blogger.com